Mobile Phones

[Tori]

I've had two blackberries. Both broke, two different models. The keypads are flaky at best and one was replaced twice.

Oh, and I knew how they both worked to their fullest capabilities...Mark!!! Tsk!

[dx408]

Phone is a personal choice but if you get good service on o2 you may want to concider an unlocked phone and a rolling 1 month contract maybe like these http://giffgaff.com/index/offer

[know your limitations]

i phone all the way mate the only people who dont rate them are those who dont have one  :rolleyes  iv never met anyone who has one who doesent think its the dogs danglys (i think a lot of it is the anti apple brigade)

Arrogant customer support (remember when the reception was shite and Apple said you were all holding the phone incorrectly?) Apple also routinely under-spec the phones because they know the sheep will buy a shed load more of the newer versions (what! they do that with iPad too? NOOO!), no scope for external memory expansion, everything has to go through iTunes, picky about the sound/video formats it will play, overpriced.....
Other than that, iPhone all the way

[know your limitations]

Now I've had my iPhone rant I can offer something more constructive and grown up.
You could always consider breaking the shackles of any contract and go pay as you go.
O2 do some cracking tariffs with inclusive data and texts from £10 a month regular top up.
You can then buy a really good sim-free smartphone, new or nearly new from £150.
Dependant on your requirements, this could be a cheaper option. Even if it works out similar to pay monthly over the course of a year, you're free to change anytime because you have no contract.
Remember, most (smartphone) contracts are 24 months now.

[clayt74]

[quote author=paul.s link=topic=3040.msg24222#msg24222 date=1337279488]
i phone all the way mate the only people who dont rate them are those who dont have one  :rolleyes  iv never met anyone who has one who doesent think its the dogs danglys (i think a lot of it is the anti apple brigade)

Arrogant customer support (remember when the reception was shite and Apple said you were all holding the phone incorrectly?) Apple also routinely under-spec the phones because they know the sheep will buy a shed load more of the newer versions (what! they do that with iPad too? NOOO!), no scope for external memory expansion, everything has to go through iTunes, picky about the sound/video formats it will play, overpriced.....
Other than that, iPhone all the way
[/quote]

I agree iphones just impose unnessesary limitations and expense for a product that should be so much better.

Android is definately the future and as open source and future expandability will seriously give apple a good kicking in the next few years (especially cos of their loss of steve job).
I have just pre ordered the galaxy S3 the specs are spanking 
cant wait till the end of the month to take delivery

[breadlord]

I've rooted my Galaxy S2 and I'm running the nightly builds of cyanogen mod. Much nicer experience than either Samsung or HTC skinned android and the battery now lasts two days.

[tomjimtom]

plus andriod you can play angry birds for free... Think you have to pay on iphone?

If you're not fussed though, I'd look at O2 simplicity, you just pay a rolling monthly contract for the sim card atn various extras, use your own phone.
http://www.o2.co.uk/tariffs/simplicity

Do look at Tesco, they use the same network as O2 (as my little mind understands it) so if you're happy with the signal you get now, Tesco might be cheaper (plus clubcard points - how exciting)

Tom

[goldfazer]

For any Android users who want more battery life, install JuiceDefender - basically it stops all the wifi, email, etc etc when the screen is turned off. I get a few days out of my Desire now, used to be a day if I was lucky. Of course you could always have a spare battery in yer pocket, something not possible on an iPhone

[Robbie8666]

my tuppence
i was on PAYG with o2 & Tesco mobules for years swapped to orange pay monthly contract they gave me a basic Nokia that i can use as a phone , it texts and has a camera. i can get fb on it, i dont need apps or anything as if i want a pc/laptop i have one at home / on my desk at work. if it is important ppl can call me if i cant answer it they leave a voicemail,,, simples. cant use all those apps when driving or riding !!

keep it simple!

[locksmith]

Theres a coincidence, I did the same thing yesterday. Finally got a smartphone. Got fed up with small text and keypads for my ageing eyes :lol
I plumped for the Sony Experia arc s. Main reason being, I've been with o2 since Jesus was a boy. I'm not a big user and have been on a £10 tariff for ages.
The Sony was only £80 to buy on the same tariff. I've added a £3 data pack to that. OK it's a 24 month contract but I'm not planning going anywhere.
Also it gets good reviews for it's camera and I do take the odd piccie. Not interested in Facebook etc and emailing from it but it's built for them.
Google maps actually works as well
Was playing with it all evening and it's a joy to use. I can actually see the text :lol

[dx408]

Old maybe but love it.  :lol

[helen]

Tim, I've got an iphone 4s (which makes and receives calls pretty good!!).................but it might be a bit exciting for an accountant  :pokefun

[cy8rm4n]

I'm using Sony Xperia S on O2 for £18.50 a month. Phone was free as an introductory offer. Seemed best deal around at time. I was shopping around for best deal/best phone for about a month before I could upgrade. Found this helpful
http://www.billmonitor.com/

[crishner]

i have the iphone 4 got it for christmas i had the nokia E7 b4 this and there is no comparison the nokia had to be charged twice a day from brand new the iphone will last 2 days with the same usage if you do go for an android or the nokia smart phone then make sure you install an app killer as that is what did in my nokia as it dose not shut down the apps in the same way as the iphone with the nokia you have to shut them down manualy.

[chilly]

http://www.uswitch.com/mobiles/deals/sam...xts%3D1000


thats what i am going for

[locksmith]

OMG I can talk to google  :eek
For an old boy like me, it was quiet a moment in history when I discovered that yesterday :lol

OK - techie question. Using the phone as a sat-nav, I realise it will use data, but how much do you think it uses, say for an hour's journey with directions??
Just wondering whether to bother getting a mount for the car or not. (got a regular sat-nav but the phone would look at lot cooler )

[breadlord]

My experience, in an hour of android navigation you're not going to use more than 100k. You can get that down to even less if you pre-cache the areas you're going to be in when you're on wifi at home.

[locksmith]

100k, so is that .1 of a mb?

[breadlord]

100k, so is that .1 of a mb?

Aye.


That said, there is navfree:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/detai...id.OSM.ALL


You're given the option of downloading the data for given countries. I'm not too certain of the quality of the openstreetmap.org maps, though. Not used them much. I prefer the Google ones.

[crishner]

[quote author=locksmith link=topic=3040.msg24798#msg24798 date=1337599280]
100k, so is that .1 of a mb?

Aye.


That said, there is navfree:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/detai...id.OSM.ALL


You're given the option of downloading the data for given countries. I'm not too certain of the quality of the openstreetmap.org maps, though. Not used them much. I prefer the Google ones.
[/quote]
i have this on my iphone works great you can do a google serch to find your addy and away you go